Blue Mountains National Park wildflowers

Acacias & Myrtles of the
Blue Mountains National Park

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Acacias (wattles) - family Mimosaceae

There are an estimated 900 species of Acacia in Australia. And this includes the Australian Floral Emblem, the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) - which is not endemic to the Sydney region.

An index to the Acacia images included below.

Lunate-leaved Acacia
Prickly Moses

Rush-leaved Wattle
Sunshine Wattle

Sweet-scented Wattle
Sydney Golden Wattle

Myrtles - family Myrtaceae

The most common member of the Myrtaceae family is, of course, the eucalypt or gum tree. They have the distinction of giving the Blue Mountains its colour and therefore its name. The blue hue of distant hills is caused by fine droplets of eucalyptus oil in the air.

An index to the Myrtle images included below.

Darwinia taxifolia
Common Fringe Myrtle
Pink Buttons

Pink Tea-tree
Scribbly Gum
Silver-top Ash

Small Leaf Tea-tree
Tantoon
Woolly Tea-tree

Other attractions of the Blue Mountains National Park

Mt. Solitary provides the southern wall of the Jamison Valley, and as such is second only to the Three Sisters to catch one's attention at the Queen Elizabeth Lookout at Echo Point, Katoomba.

Mt. Solitary is 960 metres high and over 2km long. To the south of Mt. Solitary is the Cedar and Kedumba Valleys that the Cox's River flows through before entering Warragamba Dam's Lake Burragorang. Cox's River starts its journey north-west of Lithgow.

Acacias (wattles) - family Mimosaceae

Select the thumbnail image to see the full image.

Sunshine Wattle Acacia terminalis Although flowering for all except the summer months, it's in winter when it's at its best - bringing brilliant splashes of yellow to the bush. The flowers are 1cm wide.	Prickly Moses Acacia ulicifolia This autumn and winter flowering acacia has narrow very sharp leaves. The flowers are up to 1cm wide.	Rush-leaved Wattle Acacia juncifolia The long reed like leaves identifies this acacia. It flowers in late winter into spring.
Lunate-leaved Acacia Acacia lunata Brilliant yellow flowers in spring, this wattle is identified by the 3-5 flowers in each globe, and the vein in its dull green leaves being off-centre.	Sydney Golden Wattle Acacia longifolia This spring flowering wattle is identified by the three veins in its long leaves.	Sweet-scented Wattle Acacia suaveolens Flowering in late winter, it does indeed have a gentle sweet smell.

Myrtles - family Myrtaceae

Select the thumbnail image to see the full image.

Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus sclerophylla This species of the unmistakable Scribbly Gum is common in the Blue Mountains. It is also known as the Hard-leaved Scribbly Gum.	Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus sclerophylla As the bark ages through the year, it goes from cream to grey, before eventually peeling off in strips in summer.	Scribbly Gum Eucalyptus sclerophylla The combination of bark colour, sap and scribbles produces some amazing images.
Silver-top Ash Eucalyptus sieberi Identified by its red branchlets and the veins of its leaves, this spring flowering eucalypt also has a purple ring around the edge of each flower.	Silver-top Ash (gumnuts) Eucalyptus sieberi The Silver-top Ash forms the basis of the woodchip export industry in Eden. It is also known as Black Ash.	Small Leaf Tea-tree Leptospermum parvifolium A small variety of tea-tree (up to 2m high) whose leaves are less than 1cm long and whose petals are barely 5mm.
Woolly Tea-tree Leptospermum lanigerum Very similar description to L. grandifolium. However, I believe the specimen shown here is L. lanigerum due to its very silky sepals and shorter leaves - many less than 10mm.	Pink Tea-tree Leptospermum squarrosum Similar in description to several species, but its larger flowers (up to 20mm) differentiates it. It also flowers in Autumn, which helps identify it. But to confuse matters, it also flowers in Spring.	Tantoon Leptospermum polygalifolium Also known as the Lemon-scented Tea-tree due to the lemony fragrance of its crushed leaves. Oil dots can be readily seen on its leaves. It produces a mass of flowers in early summer.
Common Fringe Myrtle Calytrix tetragona This plant is found across the southern states of Australia and into Queensland. The thread coming from the tip of each of the five sepals is known as an awn. The petals are about 5mm in length.	Pink Buttons Kunzea capitata Kunzeas are distinguished from Tea Trees by the long style coming from the centre of the flower. K. capitata is differentiated from K. parvifolia by its longer leaves - 4-9mm versus 1-4mm. Pink Buttons is also known as Heath Kunzea.	Darwinia taxifolia Darwinia taxifolia The two patches of Darwinia taxifolia I have found in the upper Blue Mountains, are on the most exposed terrain possible. This hardy plant flowers in winter and spring.